Falling revenues, bigger losses, higher wages: Prem Rugby clubs’ debt climbs to £366m

Prem Rugby clubs’ collective losses and debt levels are continuing to increase despite growing interest from global companies and financiers shown by the recent investment of Red Bull, Sir James Dyson, and the Black Knight group which owns AFC Bournemouth.

The third edition of the Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report published on Tuesday shows that the financial losses of the 10 Prem clubs rose from £34m to £36.5m over the 2024-25 season and combined debt levels increased from £342.5m to £366.1m, while the top flight’s total wage bills grew from £125.9m to £129.8m, 80% of revenues.

9m, with the result that six of the 10 clubs are balance-sheet insolvent with Northampton, Gloucester, Leicester and Saracens the only exceptions.